The comparison of M855 ammunition, commonly referred to by its green-painted tip, against watermelons serves as a common, albeit unscientific, demonstration of the round’s penetrative capabilities. Typically, this involves firing the 5.56x45mm cartridge, loaded with the M855 projectile, at a watermelon to visually represent its terminal ballistics. This demonstration is often used in online videos and discussions about firearms and ammunition performance.
While such demonstrations can provide a visually engaging representation of projectile impact, they are not a substitute for controlled scientific testing and should not be interpreted as a definitive measure of the round’s effectiveness against other materials, especially those significantly different from the density and composition of a watermelon. The popularity of these demonstrations likely stems from the readily available nature of watermelons and the dramatic visual effect of the impact. However, it’s crucial to understand that this visual representation doesn’t translate directly to real-world scenarios involving different target compositions, such as ballistic gelatin or various types of armor.